UPGRADING NETWORK TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT DEVICES WHILE MAINTAINING AVAILABILITY - A method, system, machine-readable storage medium, and apparatus are directed towards upgrading a cluster by bifurcating the cluster into two virtual clusters, an “old” virtual cluster (old active cluster) and a “new” virtual cluster (new standby cluster), and iteratively upgrading members of the old cluster while moving them into the new cluster. While members are added to the new cluster, existing connections and new connections are seamlessly processed by the old cluster. Optionally, state mirroring occurs between the old cluster and the new cluster once the number of members of the old and new clusters are approximately equal. Once a threshold number of members have been transferred to the new cluster, control and processing may be taken over by the new cluster. Transfer of control from the old cluster to the new cluster may be performed by failing over connectivity from the old cluster to the new cluster.

2010-02-18

20100042870

MULTICORE PROCESSOR AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING MULTICORE PROCESSOR - A multicore processor has a plurality of processor cores each of which is configured to execute a computation, a plurality of reconfigurable devices dynamically reconfigurable in circuit configuration on the basis of circuit information, and a lock state storage section configured to store lock information indicating whether or not each of the reconfigurable devices is locked. The multicore processor also has a plurality of reconfigurable control sections each of which is configured to load circuit information for a computation to be executed into one of the reconfigurable devices not locked, by referring to the lock information, performs execution of the computation with the reconfigurable device and execution of the computation with the one of the processor cores in parallel with each other, and perform control so that results of execution of the computation completed faster are adopted.

2010-02-18

20100042871

System with Configurable Functional Units and Method - A method and a system is provided for the processing of data or signals with a number of functional units which are each adapted to apply one or several functions to the data or signals, and which are connected with each other via a connection matrix for the exchange of data or signals between the functional units. At least one functional unit of the system is programmable and/or configurable such that it performs a particular function out of a number of different functions. The connection matrix is programmed and/or configured such that the functional units are connected with each other in a particular configuration out of a number of different configurations.

2010-02-18

20100042872

RECURSIVE STRUCTURE FOR DIAGNOSTIC MODEL - A recursive mapping structure for diagnostic models is provided. A parent diagnostic model includes a first input module, a first output module, a first monitor module coupled to the first input and first output modules, and a first propagation module coupled between the first input and first output modules. A child diagnostic model includes a second input module, a second output module, a second monitor module coupled to the second input and second output modules, and a second propagation module coupled between the second input and second output modules, wherein the second monitor module is coupled to the first monitor module.

DEVICE TESTING METHOD AND ARCHITECTURE - The same testing equipment can be used to test devices operating under different protocols. Where the testing protocol is slower than the native serial protocol of the high-speed serial link connecting the device processor to the component to be tested, the link may be adapted to carry the lower speed testing protocol. This may be accomplished by adding low-speed buffers to the circuits of the serial link, or the serial link may have a native low-speed protocol in addition to its high-speed protocol connections may be made to the pathways for the native low-speed protocol, or the testing protocol may be impressed on top of native low-speed protocol. Where the driver of the device being tested has limited number of pins, the test mode can be controlled by applying power to different power supply input pins.

2010-02-18

20100042875

CAPTURING MACHINE STATE OF UNSTABLE JAVA PROGRAM - Mechanisms and methods for capturing an execution state of a failing program in a computing environment are disclosed. Embodiments can enable detection of user initiated program terminations and error information capture without incurring the overhead of a separate monitoring process. It is possible to obtain an execution trace and related state information in the event that a program has incurred a program error causing the user to terminate the program.

2010-02-18

20100042876

System and Method for Wireless Transmission Using Hybrid ARQ Based on Average Mutual Information Per Bit - A method and system for packet transmission in a hybrid automatic repeat request (ARQ) system. A modulation and a block length for a transmission are determined based on the average mutual information per bit. The average mutual information per bit is computed based on a current channel signal-to-noise ratio and a plurality of previous transmissions, each being transmitted with a respective coded block length, modulation form, and signal-to-noise ratio. A block error rate is computed for the potential block lengths and modulations based on the average mutual information per bit, and a throughput of the current transmission is determined based on the block error rate. The modulation form and the block length of the transmission are determined based on an analysis of the throughput. If the receiver cannot decode the current transmission, the transmitter repeats the computation to determine the modulation and the block length for retransmission.

2010-02-18

20100042877

Systems and Methods for Media Defect Detection - Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for media defect detection. For example, a data transfer system is disclosed that includes a data detector, a defect detector and a gating circuit. The data detector provides a soft output, and the defect detector is operable to receive the soft output and the data signal, and to assert a defect indication based at least in part on the soft output and the data signal. The gating circuit is operable to modify the soft output of the detector whenever the defect indication is asserted.

2010-02-18

20100042878

TEST APPARATUS AND TEST METHOD - Provided is a test apparatus for testing a plurality of devices under test, the test apparatus including: a data supplying section that concurrently supplies test data to the plurality of devices under test; a writing control section that controls the test data to be concurrently written to the plurality of devices under test; and a reading control section that successively reads the test data from each of the plurality of devices under test. The plurality of devices under test may be a plurality of memories under test.

2010-02-18

20100042879

Method of memory build-in self-test - The present invention discloses a memory build-in self-test comprising steps of: (a) determining whether there is redundant address in the ROM; (b) when there is redundant address for storing standard check code, transferring the coefficient file in the ROM to a predetermined format; (c) producing a self-test logic and a standard check code corresponding to the ROM via design tool; (d) writing the standard check code into the redundant address and generating a new ROM. The present invention can assure that the standard check code and coefficient can be simply revised via corresponding way of Mask Change, so as to detect the damages of ROM by using memory build-in self-test (MBIST) which does not need to remake a whole set of Mask to revise the standard check code outside the ROM, so as to save cost and time, and lower the difficulty to update the product.

2010-02-18

20100042880

TEST APPARATUS AND TEST METHOD - Provided is a test apparatus provided in common for a plurality of memories under test, comprising an address generating section that sequentially generates addresses to be tested in the memories under test and a plurality of buffer memories that are provided to correspond respectively to the plurality of memories under test and that each store addresses to be independently supplied to the corresponding memory under test. The test apparatus (i) compares block data output by the corresponding memory under test in response to the read command to an expected value of this block data, for each generated address, (ii) sequentially stores, in the buffer memory provided corresponding to each memory under test and in response to detection of a discrepancy in the comparison, the address generated for reading the block data, and (iii) writes, in parallel to the plurality of memories under test, a disable data that includes, as individual addresses, the addresses stored in the buffer memory.

2010-02-18

20100042881

Management of ARQ Detection Threshold in Communication Networks - Embodiments of a system and methodology are disclosed for enabling a network to manage threshold values provided to UEs for use in decoding ACK-NAK signals. In various embodiments described herein, a base station signals an actual fixed threshold value in a semi-static manner for use by UEs to decode ACK/NAK signals. In these embodiments, the threshold value is part of a semi-static but UE-specific threshold value. This allows the base station to accommodate varying UE geometries, and optimize power savings for ACK-NAK transmissions. Embodiments of the invention also allow the base station to enforce a desired quality of service (QoS) without excessive power variations across ACK/NAK which are limited by the transmit power dynamic range.

2010-02-18

20100042882

Packet Retransmissions - A method of packet retransmission in a communications system having a plurality of user devices and at least one network device involves broadcasting a multimedia broadcast multicast service transmission to the plurality of user devices. One or more of the user devices which failed to receive the complete transmission correctly send a request for retransmission to the network device and the network device retransmits requested packets of the original transmission on a different transmission channel to the original broadcast channel.

2010-02-18

20100042883

Retransmission - Embodiments related to retransmission are described and depicted.

2010-02-18

20100042884

Method and Apparatus of Handling TTI Bundling - A method for handling a Transmission Time Interval (TTI) bundling mode in a user equipment (UE) of a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method includes steps of switching an operation status of the TTI bundling mode; and flushing all uplink Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) buffers in the UE when the operation status of the TTI bundling mode is switched.

RETRANSMISSION RESOURCE ALLOCATION METHOD FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - A retransmission resource allocation method and apparatus for a wireless communication system for allocating a retransmission resource using a semi-persistent resource allocation message indicating a retransmission resource allocation is provided. The method includes receiving, at a mobile terminal, a semi-persistent resource allocation message; determining whether the semi-persistent resource allocation message indicates a retransmission resource allocation or a semi-persistent resource allocation, based on usage information included in the semi-persistent resource allocation message; and executing, when the semi-persistent resource allocation message indicates the retransmission resource allocation, a retransmission operation based on resource assignment information included in the semi-persistent resource allocation message.

Method and Apparatus of Handling TTI Bundling Retransmission - A method for handling Transmission Time Interval (TTI) bundle retransmission in a user equipment (UE) of a wireless communication system is disclosed. The UE operates in a TTI bundling mode. The method includes steps of performing a bundle retransmission of a TTI bundle, which is triggered by a Hybrid Automatic Retransmission Request (HARQ) process responsible for the TTI bundle, and determining whether to generate a non-adaptive retransmission for a current transmission opportunity according to a last received feedback of this HARQ process no matter whether the current transmission opportunity is a first transmission opportunity of the bundle retransmission when no uplink grant for the current transmission opportunity has been received on a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH).

2010-02-18

20100042889

MEMORY SYSTEM AND METHOD USING A MEMORY DEVICE DIE STACKED WITH A LOGIC DIE USING DATA ENCODING, AND SYSTEM USING THE MEMORY SYSTEM - A memory system and method using at least one memory device die stacked with and coupled to a logic die by interconnects, such as through silicon vias. One such logic die includes an ECC system generating error checking and correcting (“ECC) bits corresponding to write data. The write data are transmitted to the memory device dice in a packet containing a serial burst of a plurality of parallel data bits. The ECC bits are transmitted to the memory device dice using through silicon vias that are different from the vias through which data are coupled. Such a logic die could also include a data bus inversion (“DBI”) system encoding the write data using a DBI algorithm and transmitting to the memory device dice DBI bits indicating whether the write data have been inverted. The DBI bits are transmitted using through silicon vias that are shared with the ECC bits when they are unused for transferring the ECC bits.

2010-02-18

20100042890

ERROR-FLOOR MITIGATION OF LDPC CODES USING TARGETED BIT ADJUSTMENTS - Embodiments of the present invention are methods for breaking one or more trapping sets in a near codeword of a failed graph-based decoder, e.g., an LDPC decoder. The methods determine, from among all bit nodes associated with one or more unsatisfied check nodes in the near codeword, which bit nodes, i.e., the suspicious bit nodes or SBNs, are most likely to be erroneous bit nodes. The methods then perform a trial in which the values of one or more SBNs are altered and decoding is re-performed. If the trial does not converge on the decoded correct codeword (DCCW), then other trials are performed until either (i) the decoder converges on the DCCW or (ii) all permitted combinations of SBNs are exhausted. The starting state of a particular trial, and the set of SBNs available to that trial may change depending on the results of previous trials.

2010-02-18

20100042891

ERROR-CORRECTION DECODER EMPLOYING CHECK-NODE MESSAGE AVERAGING - In one embodiment, an LDPC decoder has a controller and one or more check-node units (CNUs). Each CNU is selectively configurable to operate in (i) a first mode that updates check-node (i.e., R) messages without averaging and (ii) a second mode that that updates R messages using averaging. Initially, each CNU is configured in the first mode to generate non-averaged R messages, and the decoder attempts to recover an LDPC-encoded codeword using the non-averaged R messages. If the decoder is unable to recover the correct codeword, then (i) the controller selects the averaging mode, (ii) each CNU is configured to operate in the second mode to generate averaged R messages, and (iii) the decoder attempts to recover the correct codeword using the averaged R messages. Averaging the R messages may slow down the propagation of erroneous messages that lead the decoder to convergence on trapping sets.

2010-02-18

20100042892

RECONFIGURABLE TWO'S-COMPLEMENT AND SIGN-MAGNITUDE CONVERTER - In one embodiment, a reconfigurable two's-complement-to-sign-magnitude (2TSM) converter has two five-bit non-reconfigurable 2TSM converters and is selectively configurable to operate in a five-bit mode or a ten-bit mode. In five-bit mode, the first and second non-reconfigurable 2TSM converters concurrently convert first and second five-bit messages, respectively, from two's-complement-to-sign-magnitude format. In the ten-bit mode, the first and second non-reconfigurable 2TSM converters concurrently convert first and second halves of a ten-bit message, respectively, from two's-complement-to-sign-magnitude format. The reconfigurable 2TSM converter then generates a ten-bit sign-magnitude message based on the conversions of the two non-reconfigurable 2TSM and a carry-over bit. In another embodiment, a reconfigurable sign-magnitude-to-two's-complement (SMT2) converter comprises the reconfigurable 2TSM described above. The reconfigurable SMT2 is selectively configurable to operate in (i) a five-bit mode to convert two five-bit messages concurrently and (ii) a ten-bit mode to convert one ten-bit message at a time.

2010-02-18

20100042893

RECONFIGURABLE CYCLIC SHIFTER - In one embodiment, a reconfigurable cyclic shifter is selectively configurable to operate in (i) five-bit mode to cyclically shift N five-bit messages by up to N degrees or (ii) ten-bit mode to cyclically shift N ten-bit messages by up to N degrees. The reconfigurable cyclic shifter has two five-bit N/2-way non-reconfigurable cyclic shifters. The two non-reconfigurable cyclic shifters together, without additional hardware, do not perform N degrees of cyclic shifting. Thus, five-bit and ten-bit reordering hardware is provided that enables the reconfigurable cyclic shifter to perform up to N degrees of cyclic shifting in the five- and ten-bit modes, respectively. In the five-bit mode, the N five-bit messages are shifted concurrently, where each non-reconfigurable cyclic shifter shifts N/2 of the N messages. In ten-bit mode, N/2 of the N ten-bit messages are shifted concurrently, where each non-reconfigurable cyclic shifter shifts five of the ten bits of each ten-bit message.

SELECTING LAYERED-DECODING SCHEDULES FOR OFFLINE TESTING - A method for selecting a population of schedules of an n-layer decoder for offline schedule testing. The method identifies one or more triads, where a triad is a sequence of three layers where no layer is repeated. The method selects a set of schedules where each of the identified triads is contained in at least one schedule. The method associates each selected schedule with one or more key-layer values, where a key layer is the middle layer of a triad contained within the schedule.

SELECTIVELY STRENGTHENING AND WEAKENING CHECK-NODE MESSAGES IN ERROR-CORRECTION DECODERS - In one embodiment, an LDPC decoder has a plurality of check-node units (CNUs) and a controller. Initially, the CNUs generate check-node messages based on an initial offset value selected by the controller. If the decoder converges on a trapping set, then the controller selects new offset values for missatisfied check nodes (MSCs), the locations of which are approximated, and/or unsatisfied check nodes (USCs). In particular, offset values are selected such that (i) the messages corresponding to the MSCs are decreased relative to the messages that would be generated using the initial offset value and/or (ii) the messages corresponding to the USCs are increased relative to the messages that would be generated using the initial offset value. Decoding is then continued for a specified number of iterations to break the trapping set. In other embodiments, the controller selects scaling factors rather than, or in addition to, offset values.

2010-02-18

20100042898

RECONFIGURABLE MINIMUM OPERATOR - In one embodiment, a reconfigurable minimum operator has two five-bit non-reconfigurable minimum operators and is selectively configurable to operate in a five- or ten-bit mode. In five-bit mode, the first non-reconfigurable minimum operator determines whether a first five-bit message is less than a second five-bit message, and the second non-reconfigurable minimum operator determines whether a third five-bit message is less than a fourth five-bit message. In ten-bit mode, the first non-reconfigurable minimum operator determines whether a first half of a first ten-bit message is less than a first half of a second ten-bit message, and the second non-reconfigurable minimum operator determines whether a second half of the first ten-bit message is less than a second half of the second ten-bit message. The reconfigurable minimum operator determines whether the first ten-bit message is less than the second ten-bit message based on the comparisons of the first and second non-reconfigurable minimum operators.

2010-02-18

20100042899

DEINTERLEAVER - A deinterleaver for a wireless communication device is provided that is simple and inexpensive to implement. In particular, a deinterleaver for deinterleaving a stream of data bits representing a plurality of symbols that have been interleaved using a multi-stage interleaving scheme is provided, the deinterleaver comprising preprocessing means for ordering the data bits in the stream into pairs, such that the data bits in the pair are consecutive data bits from a symbol; at least one memory for storing the paired bits, such that each pair of data bits is stored in a respective location in the memory; and a read and write address generator for the at least one memory, the generator being adapted to determine the addresses in the at least one memory that pairs of data bits are to be stored, and to determine the addresses in the at least one memory that pairs of data bits are to be read from.

2010-02-18

20100042900

Write Failure Handling of MLC NAND - In a memory system, content in a defined “risk zone” of non-volatile memory is copied into volatile memory. When a write failure occurs on non-volatile memory, the risk zone is scanned sequentially to determine corrupted content. The corrupted content is restored by writing the corresponding content previously copied to volatile memory to new blocks in non-volatile memory.

2010-02-18

20100042901

SUPPORTING VARIABLE SECTOR SIZES IN FLASH STORAGE DEVICES - A flash storage device comprises a plurality of data blocks, each data block comprising a plurality of data segments, a system memory, and a controller. The controller is configured to cache in the system memory a plurality of data sectors to be written, to write to a first one of the plurality of data segments a first one of the plurality of data sectors, to write to the first one of the plurality of data segments a first portion of a second one of the plurality of data sectors, and to write to a second one of the plurality of data segments a second portion of the second one of the plurality of data sectors.

2010-02-18

20100042902

ERROR-FLOOR MITIGATION OF ERROR-CORRECTION CODES BY CHANGING THE DECODER ALPHABET - In one embodiment, an LDPC decoder has one or more reconfigurable adders that generate variable-node messages and one or more reconfigurable check-node units (CNUs) that generate check-node messages. The LDPC decoder has a five-bit precision mode in which the reconfigurable adders and CNUs are configured to process five-bit variable-node and check-node messages, respectively. If the LDPC decoder is unable to properly decode codewords in five-bit precision mode, then the decoder can be reconfigured in real time into a ten-bit precision mode in which the reconfigurable adders and CNUs are configured to process ten-bit variable-node and check-node messages, respectively. By increasing the size of the variable-node and check-node messages from five bits to ten bits, the probability that the LDPC decoder will decode the codeword correctly may be increased.

2010-02-18

20100042903

RECONFIGURABLE ADDER - In one embodiment, a reconfigurable adder has first and second five-bit non-reconfigurable adders and is selectively configurable to operate in a five-bit mode or a ten-bit mode. In five-bit mode, the first non-reconfigurable adder adds first and second messages to generate a first sum, and the second non-reconfigurable adder adds third and fourth messages to generate a second sum. In ten-bit mode, the first non-reconfigurable adder adds a first half of a first ten-bit message and a first half of a second ten-bit message to generate a first partial sum and a carry-over bit. The second non-reconfigurable adder adds a second half of the first ten-bit message, a second half of the second ten-bit message, and the carry-over bit to generate a second partial sum. A ten-bit sum is then generated by combining the first and second partial sums.

2010-02-18

20100042904

BREAKING UNKNOWN TRAPPING SETS USING A DATABASE OF KNOWN TRAPPING SETS - In one embodiment, an LDPC decoder attempts to recover an originally-encoded LDPC codeword based on a set of channel soft-output values. If the decoder observes a trapping set, then the decoder compares the observed trapping set to known trapping sets stored in a trapping-set database to determine whether or not the observed trapping set is a known trapping set. If the observed trapping set is not known, then the decoder selects a most-dominant trapping set from the trapping-set database and identifies the locations of erroneous bit nodes in the selected trapping set. Then, the decoder adjusts the channel soft-output values corresponding to the identified erroneous bit nodes. Adjustment is performed by inverting some or all of the hard-decision bits of the corresponding channel soft-output values and setting the confidence value of each corresponding channel soft-output value to maximum. Decoding is then restarted using the adjusted channel soft-output values.

2010-02-18

20100042905

ADJUSTING INPUT SAMPLES IN TURBO EQUALIZATION SCHEMES TO BREAK TRAPPING SETS - In one embodiment, a turbo equalizer has a channel detector that receives equalized samples and generates channel soft-output values. An LDPC decoder attempts to decode the channel soft-output values to recover an LDPC-encoded codeword. If the decoder converges on a trapping set, then an adjustment block selects one or more of the equalized samples based on one or more specified conditions and adjusts the selected equalized samples. Selection may be performed by identifying the locations of unsatisfied check nodes of the last local decoder iteration and selecting the equalized samples that correspond to bit nodes of the LDPC-encoded codeword that are connected to the unsatisfied check nodes. Adjustment of the equalized samples may be performed using any combination of scaling, offsetting, and saturation. Channel detection is then performed using the adjusted equalized samples to generate an updated set of channel soft-output values, which are subsequently decoded by the decoder.

2010-02-18

20100042906

ADJUSTING SOFT-OUTPUT VALUES IN TURBO EQUALIZATION SCHEMES TO BREAK TRAPPING SETS - In one embodiment, a turbo equalizer has an LDPC decoder, a channel detector, and one or more adjustment blocks for recovering an LDPC codeword from a set of input samples. The decoder attempts to recover the codeword from an initial set of channel soft-output values and generates a set of extrinsic soft-output values, each corresponding to a bit of the codeword. If the decoder converges on a trapping set, then the channel detector performs detection on the set of input samples to generate a set of updated channel soft-output values, using the extrinsic soft-output values to improve the detection. The one or more adjustment blocks adjust at least one of (i) the extrinsic soft-output values before the channel detection and (ii) the updated channel soft-output values. Subsequent decoding is then performed on the updated and possibly-adjusted channel soft-output values to attempt to recover the codeword.

2010-02-18

20100042907

Programmable Error Correction Capability for BCH Codes - An embodiment of the invention relates to a BCH encoder formed with linear feedback shift registers (LFSRs) to form quotients and products of input polynomials with irreducible polynomials of a generator polynomial g(x) of the BCH encoder, with and without pre-multiplication by a factor x

2010-02-18

20100042908

DATA AND ERROR CORRECTION CODE MIXING DEVICE AND METHOD - Memory devices and methods are described such as those that mix data and associated error correction code blocks between multiple memory device locations. Examples include mixing between multiple memory blocks, mixing between memory pages, mixing between memory chips and mixing between memory modules. In selected examples, memory blocks and associated error correction code are mixed between multiple levels of memory device hierarchy.

2010-02-18

20100042909

DOCUMENT ERROR INFERENCE PROCESSING PROGRAM, PROCESSING DEVICE AND PROCESSING METHOD - A device includes a taxonomy schema; a display link base; a calculation link base; an XBRL document memory unit which stores an instance; an error inference unit which compares a calculated value of an input value of the instance corresponding to an item element of the calculation value in accordance with the calculation link base with the input value of the instance corresponding to the calculated value based on the display link base, detects a discrepancy between the calculation value and the input value, specifies a calculation tree structure of the calculation link base including the item element in which the discrepancy is detected and a display tree structure of the display link base including the item element in which the discrepancy is detected, and infers that a state of too many or too few item elements is regarded as a discrepancy error in the case that such an item element is set only in either one of the trees and that the item element has an input that is consistent with an absolute value of the difference between the input value and the calculated value; and an inference result display processing unit which outputs the error inferred result.

2010-02-18

20100042910

Social Media Guided Authoring - Techniques and systems for assisting an author in creating content for social media (e.g., blog posts, microblogs, tweets, etc.) are disclosed, wherein hints are provided to the author as a function of social media stored in a social media knowledge store. Social media is collected and stored in a social media knowledge store according to some criteria. Upon the happening of some predetermined event, for example, relevant information is retrieved from the social media knowledge store. The relevancy of information may be a function of editing context (provided by the author) and/or social media behavior, for example. The relevant information may be translated into hints that provide an author with suggestions and/or corrections, for example. This information is provided to the author through a social media environment (e.g., an authoring tool) that may be also be capable of receiving input from the author and outputting editing context.

2010-02-18

20100042911

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING CONTENT ON A MOBILE DEVICE BY CONTROLLING AN APPLICATION INDEPENDENT OF USER ACTION - An advertising application is provided that can be used on a mobile device to impose screen control restrictions on a portion of the mobile device display, in order to provide a controllable mechanism for displaying advertising content. The advertising application causes the display screen to be split into two or more portions, with an advertising application display having limited screen control so that advertising content can be played according to a schedule or at event driven times as dictated by an administrator or other entity so that the mobile device's services may be subsidized in part by the advertising content providers. The advertising display runs independent of the normal, user initiated applications and does not need to consider screen placement within the normally running applications and is not dependent on when the user decides to close down an application.

2010-02-18

20100042912

REMINDER AND NOTIFICATION SYSTEM FOR A PARENT - Disclosed is a web-based system for providing reminders to mothers for organizing life events. The system provides cues to mothers in a web based application which may be sent via email. The cues may include various checklists and spreadsheets customized to meet the needs of mothers. The system further includes a method of delivering target advertisements and a web-based community.

2010-02-18

20100042913

VARIABLE FORMATTING OF CELLS - Variable formatting for cells in computer spreadsheets, tables, and other documents is provided. For a selected range of cells, cell formats vary with the value in each cell (or an associated value). Formats can include color-scale backgrounds, in-cell elements (e.g., icons and data bars), and other cell formats that can be varied with a value.

Personalized Document Creation - There is disclosed environments, systems and processes for personalized document creation. Custom fixed documents may be obtained from XPS-formatted document templates based upon customization information. Document templates may be created and related to variable content in a content database. A rendering system may use the customization information in merging a selected document template with the content database in accordance with relationships and selection criteria.

DOCUMENT PROCESSSING METHOD - A method for processing a document, including receiving an operation, detecting whether an object in the document is chosen by the received operation, popping up a menu including menu options corresponding to the chosen object, detecting whether a selection operation is selected, and performing a corresponding operation according to the selection operation.

2010-02-18

20100042918

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION - A method of risk management across a mission support network is provided, including identifying a mission of the mission support network, and identifying, by a computer processor, assets of the mission support network. The assets include a mission asset to support the mission and a support asset to provide support to the mission asset. Each of the assets is characterized by a criticality index value to measure how important the asset is to a performance of the mission, and a vulnerability index value to measure a vulnerability of the asset to a threat.

2010-02-18

20100042919

WINDOWLESS CROSS PLATFORM PROGRAM, METHOD AND ENVIRONMENT - A program and method for developing a computer program usable on a plurality of operating systems. User interface objects and output control interfaces are written in a windowless manner. Operating system specific libraries are provided for rendering objects to canvas, reading a user input, or hosting an object window. Operating system functions are abstracted as attributes which define how text and drawings are rendered.

2010-02-18

20100042920

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DOWNLOADING AND MANAGING AN EDITED MEDIA STREAM TO A PORTABLE MEDIA DEVICE - In one aspect the present disclosure is directed to a media system having a base unit and a portable media player. The base unit may be adapted to playback and record media content being received from an external media source. The base unit may further be adapted to analyze the media content and to automatically extract therefrom, without intervention by a user of the system, intermittent, designated portions of the media content as the media content is received by the base unit, and to store the designated portions of the media content as media files for subsequent playback. The portable media player may be docked to the base unit so that stored media files from the base unit may be uploaded to the portable media player.

2010-02-18

20100042921

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VIEWING SOFTWARE HELP DOCUMENTATION - A system and method for viewing software help documentation obtains a feature name of a current interface of a software and a position of a cursor in the current interface, and receives a control command to invoke a help system of the software. The system and method further displays the help document of the help option corresponding to the position of the cursor in the current interface on a display device, in response to a determination that the help system comprises the feature name of the current interface, and further comprises a help option corresponding to the position of the cursor in the current interface.

2010-02-18

20100042922

CUSTOMIZABLE, DYNAMIC AND ON-DEMAND DATABASE-INFORMER FOR RELATIONAL DATABASES - Techniques for displaying information associated with a database are disclosed. A database-informer displays information (or additional information) about various database objects displayed for a user. The database-informer may be presented to user as a tool-tip. However, the database-informer can be customized and dynamically constructed based on various variables that are dynamically determined at runtime. As such, the information can be dynamically determined based on variables stored in different tables and provided on-demand when the database-informer is invoked by the user. As a result, database users can be provided with customized and up-to-date information without having to view different tables.

2010-02-18

20100042923

Touring In A Geographic Information System - The present invention relates to navigating in a geographic information system. In an embodiment, a method tours geographic information in a geographic information system. A set of actions for a tour is received. Each action includes a tour time. A tour time of at least one of the actions is defined by a user. Each action in the set of actions is executed to tour geographic information in the geographic information system.

2010-02-18

20100042924

Encoding method and apparatus and decoding method and apparatus - The disclosed embodiments relate to a multimedia data encoding/decoding method and apparatus. In some aspects, a decoding method comprises receiving multimedia data which comprises a media area including a video data area having a plurality of video contents and an audio data area having a plurality of audio contents, a media information area including a plurality of video track areas respectively corresponding to the video contents and a plurality of audio track areas respectively corresponding to the audio contents, and a menu description area including description data for displaying a menu that provides an interface between a user and media data in the media area; displaying a menu using the description data; and decoding media data extracted from the media area based on the menu, wherein each of the video track areas and the audio track areas comprises at least one of temporal information and spatial information of a corresponding content, and the media area, the media information area and the menu description area are incorporated into a single file. The disclosed embodiments include a multimedia data encoding/decoding method and apparatus can construct a multi media data file including a plurality of video/audio contents and description data for a menu between a user and media data. Thus, a time taken to process and transmit the multimedia data can be reduced.

2010-02-18

20100042925

SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR TELEVISION WITH INTEGRATED SOUND PROJECTION SYSTEM - Systems and methods that facilitate the use and operation of a television (TV) with an integrated sound projection system. The sound projector preferably comprises an array of speakers configurable to project beams that reflect off the walls and ceiling to create surround sound. In one embodiment, the user can use a graphical user interface-base menu system to move the sound beams around the viewing room while being presented with a graphical representation of the same. In another embodiment, a TV remote control unit can be equipped with a embedded microphone and microprocessor control to measure the audio level and transmit the level back to the TV to be used to automatically setup audio levels and delays in surround systems. In another embodiment, individual audio settings could be saved per each activity for a preferred viewing experience for a given activity.

2010-02-18

20100042926

THEME-BASED SLIDESHOWS - A system and method for providing photographic slideshows with theme elements is provided. Each photograph and each theme element may be associated with different contextual information. The contextual information may include, for example, locations, time and date, calendar events, user preference or history information, or any other suitable information. In response to receiving a selection of contextual information, the electronic device may identify photographs and theme elements associated with contextual information to generate a photographic slideshow. Alternatively, in response to receiving a selection of at least one photograph or theme element, the electronic device may identify contextual information associated with the selected photograph or theme element to identify other photographs and theme elements associated with the identified contextual information for generating a photographic slideshow.

2010-02-18

20100042927

Third Party Management of Computer System Control - Systems and methods for configuring Internet resources are disclosed. One method comprises: providing, to a user of web hosting services, a user control panel; and providing, to a reseller of the services, a reseller control panel. Through the user control panel, the user configures an Internet resource hosted by the web hosting provider for the user. Through the reseller control panel, the reseller defines content on the user control panel. Another method allows configuring an Internet resource hosted by a web hosting provider of an Internet service to a user. This method comprises: providing a reseller control panel, through which a reseller defines content on a user control panel. This method also comprises: generating the user control panel through which a user configures the Internet resource. The Internet resource is associated with the user and used by a program executing on a server operated by the web hosting provider.

2010-02-18

20100042928

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CALCULATING AND PRESENTING A USER-CONTRIBUTOR RATING INDEX - The quality and/or nature of the contributions submitted by a particular user-contributor may be summarized by a quality rating, a prime slice count, and/or a prime slice ratio. The quality rating may be derived from a subset of top-rated submissions by the user. The prime slice count may indicate how many of the user's submissions are within a top-rated, prime slice of the website corpus. The prime slice ratio may represent a ratio of the prime slice count to the total number of submissions from the user-contributor. Indications of the quality rating, prime slice count, and/or prime slice ration may be displayed in connection with content submitted by the user and/or a user profile. The indicators may include graphics, text, or the like. This invention allows for recognition of a valuable contributor without penalizing the contributor for submissions that do not reflect the contributor's very best work.

2010-02-18

20100042929

VERIFICATION OF SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS - Disclosed is a verification method and system for a localized computer software application, the method and system comprising identifying, for a current graphical object generated by a graphical user interface of the localized application, a resource corresponding to the current graphical object; comparing the content of the current graphical object with the identified resource; and generating an error event when the content does not match the identified resource.

2010-02-18

20100042930

Audience Manager and End Users - A method of providing an opt out feature for an exchange receives a request from a first entity to join the exchange. The request includes a URL address for a web page that is configured to receive user requests to opt out of the first entity's activities. The method generates a hidden opt out segment for the first entity. The hidden opt out segment is inaccessible to entities on the exchange, including the first entity. The method grants permission to the first entity to join the exchange.

2010-02-18

20100042931

INDICATING WEBSITE REPUTATIONS DURING WEBSITE MANIPULATION OF USER INFORMATION - An aspect of the present invention relates to methods and systems involving receiving an indicator of an attempted interaction of a client computing facility with an item of content associated with a website and presenting an indicator of reputation to a client computing facility attempting to interact with the web content. The indicator of reputation may be based at least in part upon whether an entity associated with the web content seeks to manipulate a user in order to obtain information from the user.

2010-02-18

20100042932

METHOD, APPARATUS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR PROVIDING INDICATIONS REGARDING RECOMMENDED CONTENT - An apparatus for providing indications regarding recommended content may include a processor. The processor may be configured to receive an indication of a recommended content item, determine a recommendation criteria associated with the recommended content item, select a graphical symbol for presentation in association with the recommended content item in which the graphical symbol is indicative of the recommendation criteria associated with the recommended content item, and provide for display of the graphical symbol.

2010-02-18

20100042933

REGION SELECTION CONTROL FOR SELECTING BROWSER RENDERED ELEMENTS - An initial point within a browser interface corresponding to a displayed pointer location can be identified. A terminal point within the browser interface corresponding to a final position of the pointer can also be identified. A selection region can be defined by these points, where the initial point and the terminal point are diagonally opposing corners of the selection region. A set of browser elements (e.g., HTML elements) can be searched for elements that are defined by the selection region to produce a set of resulting browser elements. The set of resulting browser elements can be marked as having been selected by a user. Thus, a user can use a definable rectangular region to select a set of browser elements.

2010-02-18

20100042934

PSEUDO TAKING-OUT OPERATION METHOD AND PROGRAMS THEREFOR - A computer-implemented method for displaying a pseudo taking-out operation of an object from a predetermined area out of the predetermined area is disclosed. The predetermined area is an area defined within a window of a web browser to display a particular content. The particular content is displayed by playing a predetermined file using a particular plug-in of the web browser. The object is at least one part of the particular content. The method comprises: obtaining an identification of the object from the predetermined file; obtaining a data file from a network in accordance with the identification, the data file providing an alternative object, the alternative object having an appearance corresponding to the object; and displaying the alternative object at a position of the object.

2010-02-18

20100042935

Method and System for Visual Landing Page Optimization Configuration and Implementation - Systems, methods, and computer program products provide a utility to an administrator computer used by an administrator for visually configuring an optimization experiment on a landing page. The landing page selected by the administrator is read. The landing page is processed to allow the administrator to configure the optimization experiment without writing code.

2010-02-18

20100042936

INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, PROGRAM, AND DISPLAY CONTROL METHOD - There is provided a browsing technology capable of performing a browsing operation intuitively as well as by a smaller number operations without the need of a device capable of performing a direct pointing such as a mouse in a layout arrangement reflecting the intention of a creator of a browsing document. Browsing documents are displayed at an ordinary display mode and in a zapping display mode. The ordinary display mode is a mode for displaying an entire display screen (a first display region) on which an entire HTML document, in which a browsing target is blocked, is displayed and a detail display screen (a second display region) on which the detail of the blocked HTML document is displayed. The zapping display mode is a mode for displaying a detail screen (a first display region), on which the detail of a browsing HTML document is displayed, and a thumbnail display screen (a second display region) on which the thumbnail image of a link destination of the information, from which the HTML document is selected, is displayed.

2010-02-18

20100042937

Activities Operating on Structured Data - Various embodiments can enable a webpage publisher to describe structured data on a webpage in a manner that enables a Web browser to intelligently present activities that pertain to user selections relative to the structured data appearing on the webpage. In at least some embodiments, a webpage publisher can provide markup that identifies structured data on a webpage. A service provider can provide a representation that describes the types of structured data in which it is interested, and how to handle the structured data responsive to a user selection. The Web browser can then use the markup in the webpage and the service provider's representation to identify and present activities associated with structured data selected by the user.

2010-02-18

20100042938

Interactive Navigation of a Dataflow Process Image - An interactive graphical environment that facilitates interactive navigation of a reconstructed dataflow process image is disclosed. The environment can create segmented image sections for at least one dataflow process image, which can be used to form the reconstructed dataflow process image. The environment can respond to inputs from a user to navigate the reconstructed dataflow process.

2010-02-18

20100042939

ENHANCED EXPORTER TOOL - Some embodiments of an enhanced exporter tool have been presented. In one embodiment, a connected centralized server is synchronized with an external server of a software vendor over an external network. The connected centralized server may reside in an internal network of a customer of the software vendor. Content from the connected centralized server is exported to a disconnected centralized server of the customer according to a set of criteria. The disconnected centralized server may reside in a secured portion of the internal network of the customer.

2010-02-18

20100042940

Geofence system with integrated user interface - A geofence system is provided. The geofence system includes a display device and a graphical user interface displayable on the display device. The graphical user interface is configured to display a map corresponding with a geographical area, and provide a graphical representation of a geofence. The graphical representation is overlaid on the displayed map and includes a control portion responsive to an input device configured to adjust an operational aspect of at least a portion of the geofence. The control portion is associated with a location on the map.

2010-02-18

20100042941

MANAGING SUBSET OF USER CONTACTS - Systems, methods, and computer-readable mediums for managing a subset of user contacts on a telecommunications device are provided. In one embodiment, a software application executed by a processor of a telecommunications device identifies a subset of contacts selected at least in part by a user of the telecommunications device. The subset of contacts includes a portion of the user's contacts accessible by the telecommunications device. The software application executed by the processor of the telecommunications device then causes display of a graphical identifier associated with each contact of the subset of contacts in an arrangement on a display of the telecommunications device about an axis positioned external to the display of the telecommunications device. Aspects of systems, methods, and computer-readable mediums for further arranging the graphical identifiers are also provided. Even further, aspects of systems, methods, and computer-readable mediums for providing functionality associated with the graphical identifiers are provided.

2010-02-18

20100042942

Backup to Provide Hardware Agnostic Access to a Virtual Workspace Using Multiple Virtualization Dimensions - The present invention provides methods and systems for virtualization of workspaces in a computer system. The computer system may include an operating system that may abstract the computer's hardware and other applications. Further, the operating system may contain and isolate operating system services from each other and applications and may facilitate virtualized execution of one or more applications. In addition, the virtualization of workspace may contain and isolate user data from the hardware, the operating system and the applications, and may provide a backup facility to allow instant, hardware agnostic access to the virtualized workspace.

2010-02-18

20100042943

Method And Systems For Layered Presentation Of A Graphic Background And A Web Accessible Resource In A Browser Widget - Methods and systems are described for layered presentation of a graphic background and a web accessible resource in a browser widget. In one aspect, a graphic background is retrieved for layered presentation in a browser widget along with a browser resource. The graphic background is presented along with the browser resource in the browser widget in a background presentation layer. A web accessible resource is presented in a web resource widget in a browser widget presentation layer on top of the background presentation layer. The browser resource is presented along with the graphic background such that it is at least partially viewable.

2010-02-18

20100042944

System And Method For Generating Representations Of Message-Related Relationships - A system and method for generating graphical representations of message-related relationships is provided. Messages exchanged between at least two entities are analyzed. Data elements are extracted from the messages. Concepts are identified based on the extracted data elements. A social network is created based on the exchanged messages. Each entity is represented by a node. One or more links are created between at least two of the nodes. Each link represents the messages exchanged between the entities represented by the at least two nodes. A representation of the social network is provided. The concepts associated with the exchanged messages are displayed with the social network.

2010-02-18

20100042945

APPLICATION WINDOW AREA CHANGE SURVEILLANCE - A method and system for monitoring a computer program window define an area of a computer program window and compute a hash value for the defined area. The computed hash value is stored and the hash value is recomputed for the defined area after a predetermined time period. The recomputed hash value is compared with the stored. If the stored hash value and the recomputed hash value are different, the method and system overwrite the stored hash value with the recomputed hash value, and generate a notification. Recomputing, comparing, overwriting and generating are performed periodically to monitor the changes in the defined area.

2010-02-18

20100042946

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WEB-BASED SOFT KEYBOARD CHARACTER ENTRY - The subject application is directed to a system and method for web-based soft keyboard character entry. Web connection sessions with each of a plurality of thin clients is established, wherein each thin client is disposed one of a corresponding plurality of associated workstations via network connection. Keyboard layout data corresponding to each of a plurality of properties of soft keyboard layout is stored in an associated storage. Region data corresponding to a region associated therewith is received from each thin client as well as display size data corresponding to a display size associated therewith. Target-specific keyboard layout data is received for each of the plurality of thin clients in accordance with the keyboard layout data and, region data and display size data associated with each thin client and communicated to each thin client in accordance with the calculation corresponding thereto so as generate a soft keyboard layout thereon.

2010-02-18

20100042947

ANIMATIONS AND TRANSITIONS - Animations and transitions are provided for display of objects in a user interface. The animations and transitions include movement of objects into and within a display area, changes in the size or orientation of an object, and intensity changes for objects within a display area.

2010-02-18

20100042948

Web Page Content Discovery - Various embodiments enable discovery of functionality associated with a webpage's content. In at least some embodiments, a user interface instrumentality can be automatically presented to a user to inform the user of functionality associated with content appearing on a webpage. The user interface instrumentality can, in some instances, reside in the form of a clickable button that is automatically presented when a user moves their cursor on or near a particular piece of webpage content. By clicking on the presented button, the user can access functionality associated with the particular piece of webpage content. In at least some other embodiments, a browser's chrome includes a discovery button that provides a listing of items that have functionality that can be performed relative to the items.

2010-02-18

20100042949

MENU MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A computer-based menu management system and method creates a record for each of the menu options in a main menu of an electronic device, creates a sub-record for each of sub-menu options in a low hierarchy of each of the menu options, and assigns initial values to parameters of each record and each sub-record. The system and method further adds a predetermined value to each of the parameters of each record or each sub-record, in response to each visit to a corresponding menu option or a corresponding sub-menu option. In addition, the system and method totals current values of the parameters, and sorts the menu options and sub-menu options of each of the menu options according to the current values of the parameters of each record and each sub-record in a predetermined sorting period.

2010-02-18

20100042950

ELECTRONIC DEVICE EQUIPPED WITH TOUCH SCREEN DISPLAY AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An electronic device equipped with touch screen display and control method thereof is provided. The electronic device includes a memory configured for storing menu information defining one or more menus, and a predetermined number of times of touches, a touch screen display configured for detecting a touch of a user, a counter configured for counting a number of touches on the touch screen display since the last update of the positions of the menu icons on the display, and an processor configured for executing a function corresponding to the content of a menu whose menu icon is touched, and further configured for updating the position information of the menus stored in the memory as well as shifting the display positions of menu icons of the menus on the touch screen display when the number of touches has reached the predetermined number of times.

2010-02-18

20100042951

Graphical user interface for expandable menus - A graphical user interface for a display devised for presentation of hierarchical information includes a first menu field carrying a list of menu items, at least one of the menu items indicating a submenu field which is expandable within the first menu field. A graphical layer effect is applied to an expanded submenu field such that the submenu field is displayed as an underlying layer to the first menu field.

2010-02-18

20100042952

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VIEWING DEVICE COMPONENTS - In a system for viewing the internal components of a device, a user interface is provided. Device selection criteria is received by the system from the user interface. After receiving the device selection criteria, a device model is retrieved from a database in accordance with the device selection criteria. The device model is displayed using the user interface. After displaying the device data, component or subsystem selection criteria is received from the user interface. Component or subsystem data is retrieved from the database, and the component or subsystem data is displayed using the user interface.

2010-02-18

20100042953

METHOD, COMPUTER, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR DISPLAYING A HIERARCHICAL NAVIGATION SCHEME - A method, computer, and computer program for displaying user screens within a hierarchical navigation scheme are provided. A method includes generating a navigation tree including a plurality of nodes, wherein each node is at least one of a link to a user screen, a pointer to at least one parent node, and a link to a script. The method also includes generating a navigation bar including a plurality of node navigation tool buttons and a current path including at least a first node button representative of a currently selected first node, generating a child bar including at least the first node button, and displaying the navigation bar and the child bar within a user interface.

2010-02-18

20100042954

Motion based input selection - A method for selecting an input value based on sensed motion is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes varying a graphical element displayed on a handheld device in response to sensed motion to identify an input value. The motion-based input may be used to perform a function on the handheld device or on an external device. For example, the input may be used to open a lock or to rotate a displayed image. Various additional methods, devices, and systems employing motion-based inputs are also provided.

2010-02-18

20100042955

Method of Minimizing Early-mode Violations Causing Minimum Impact to a Chip Design - A system and a method for correcting early-mode timing violations that operate across the process space of a circuit design. Optimizations are performed to replace padding that increase path delays on fast paths. At the stage in the design process where early-mode violations are addressed, placement, late-mode timing closure, routing, and detailed electrical and timing analysis are assumed to have been completed. The optimizations are designed to be effective in delaying fast paths while minimizing the impact on already-completed work on the chip, in contrast to relying only on adding pads that can have a negative impact on all of these quantities. The optimizations are classified according to their invasiveness and are followed by their deployment. The deployment is designed to minimize using delay pads, reduce design disruptions, and minimize effects on other aspects of the design.

2010-02-18

20100042956

System, and Method, And Computer Readable Medium For Designing A Scalable Clustered Storage Integrated Circuit For Multi-Media Processing - An integrated circuit includes a clustered memory storage subsystem. The integrated circuit utilizes a baseline design that supports a scalable number of memory clusters. The number of storage devices within an individual memory cluster may also be selected to adjust the memory capacity. A single baseline design of a clustered memory storage subsystem design is customized for a particular integrated circuit with the number of memory clusters and storage devices within memory clusters selected for the memory requirements of a particular application. The design and verification costs to fabricate different versions of the integrated circuit are thus reduced.

2010-02-18

20100042957

REPLACING SINGLE-CUT VIA INTO MULTI-CUT VIA IN SEMICONDUCTOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT DESIGN - According an aspect of the invention, there is provided a design support system of a semiconductor integrated circuit includes: a first unit configured to determine a wiring path by calculating wiring resource consuming information for carrying out a connection through a multi-cut via in case that the connection is carried out through the multi-cut via in a wiring region having a plurality of layers; and a second unit configured to replacing a single-cut via into the multi-cut via.

2010-02-18

20100042958

ANALYSIS OF STRESS IMPACT ON TRANSISTOR PERFORMANCE - Roughly described, a method for approximating stress-induced mobility enhancement in a channel region in an integrated circuit layout, including approximating the stress at each of a plurality of sample points in the channel, converting the stress approximation at each of the sample points to a respective mobility enhancement value, and averaging the mobility enhancement values at all the sample points. The method enables integrated circuit stress analysis that takes into account stresses contributed by multiple stress generation mechanisms, stresses having vector components other than along the length of the channel, and stress contributions (including mitigations) due to the presence of other structures in the neighborhood of the channel region under study, other than the nearest STI interfaces. The method also enables stress analysis of large layout regions and even full-chip layouts, without incurring the computation costs of a full TCAD simulation.

2010-02-18

20100042959

Test pattern coverage through parallel discard, flow control, and quality metrics - A method, computer program product, and data processing system that controls test packets that are sent to a coordinating computer system is provided. A node computer system runs a test case that results in one or more test result packets. Control data structures are received from one or more coordinating computer systems. The resulting test result packets are compared to the one or more received data structures. The comparison reveals whether one or more of the test result packets include results requested by the coordinating computer systems. Test result packets are selected when the comparison reveals that the selected test result packets include results requested by the coordinating computer systems. Selected test result packets are sent to one of the coordinating computer systems and unselected test result packets are discarded by the node.

2010-02-18

20100042960

Structure for Couple Noise Characterization Using a Single Oscillator - A design structure for a computer-aided design system for generating a functional design model of an integrated circuit design (having nets comprising wires) determines critical parameters for coupling noise between the wires of the nets and acceptable limits for the critical parameters. Further, methods herein include designing a ring oscillator to have stages, each of the stages measuring only one of the critical parameters. This ring oscillator is then included within an integrated circuit design and associated design structure. The embodiments herein produce an integrated circuit according to this integrated circuit design and operate the ring oscillator within the integrated circuit to measure the critical parameters of the integrated circuit and produce test results. These test results are output to determine whether the test results are within the acceptable limits.

2010-02-18

20100042961

IDENTIFICATION OF VOLTAGE REFERENCE ERRORS IN PCB DESIGNS - Disclosed is a computer implemented method for determining a voltage reference error in a PCB design comprising receiving information about said PCB design, identifying a signal associated with said design, receiving one or more user defined voltage references for said signal, and comparing the user defined voltage reference to the voltages of the power planes adjacent to said signal.

2010-02-18

20100042962

Structure for Couple Noise Characterization Using a Single Oscillator - A design structure for a computer-aided design system for generating a functional design model of an integrated circuit design (having nets comprising wires) determines critical parameters for coupling noise between the wires of the nets and acceptable limits for the critical parameters. Further, methods herein include designing a ring oscillator to have stages, each of the stages measuring only one of the critical parameters. This ring oscillator is then included within an integrated circuit design and associated design structure. The embodiments herein produce an integrated circuit according to this integrated circuit design and operate the ring oscillator within the integrated circuit to measure the critical parameters of the integrated circuit and produce test results. These test results are output to determine whether the test results are within the acceptable limits.

2010-02-18

20100042963

Constrained Physical Design Tuning - Described is a constraint language and related technology by which complex constraints may be used in selecting configurations for use in physical database design tuning. The complex constraint (or constraints) is processed, e.g., in a search framework, to determine and output at least one configuration that meets the constraint, e.g., a best configuration found before a stopping condition is met. The search framework processes a current configuration into candidate configurations, including by searching for candidate configurations from a current configuration based upon a complex constraint, iteratively evaluating a search space until a stopping condition is satisfied, using transformation rules to generate new candidate configurations, and selecting a best candidate configuration. Transformation rules and pruning rules are applied to efficiently perform the search. Constraints may be specified as assertions that need to be satisfied, or as soft assertions that come close to satisfying the constraint.

2010-02-18

20100042964

REUSE OF CIRCUIT LABELS IN SUBCIRCUIT RECOGNITION - Method, apparatus and system for finding instances of a pattern in a main netlist include reading in the main netlist and the pattern that is used for finding pattern matches in the main netlist. The main netlist and the pattern include a plurality of vertices. Each of the vertices is a device or a net. Labels for the vertices are computed in both the pattern and the main netlist up to a depth appropriate for the pattern. A vertex of the pattern is identified and used in matching with one or more vertices in the main netlist at the depth appropriate for the pattern using the computed labels. The computed labels for each of the vertices of the main netlist are stored for possible reuse in subsequent pattern matches.

2010-02-18

20100042965

Method and System for Scalable Reduction in Registers With Sat-Based Resubstitution - A method, system, and computer program product for reducing the size of a logic network design, prior to verification of the logic network design. The method includes eliminating registers to reduce the size of the logic network design; thereby, increasing the speed and functionality of the verification process, and decreasing the size of the logic network design. The system identifies one or more compatible resubstitutions of a selected register, wherein the compatible resubstitution expresses the selected register as one or more pre-existing registers of fixed initial state. The resubstitutions are refined utilizing design invariants. When one more resubstitutions are preformed, the system eliminates the selected registers to reduce the size of the logic network design. As a result of the resubstitution process, a logic network design of reduced size is generated.

2010-02-18

20100042966

MULTIPLEXER IMPLEMENTATION - Disclosed is a method of improving a synthesized circuit design comprising searching the synthesized circuit design for a first instance of a first pattern of gates. The first instance is removed from the synthesized circuit design. The first instance is replaced with a non-synthesized cell. A method of altering a multiplexer implementation comprises receiving a netlist that describes a synthesized logic circuit design. Parsing the netlist to detect a first instance of a first pattern of gates that implements a first multiplexer. The first instance is replaced in the netlist with a technology implementation of the first multiplexer.

2010-02-18

20100042967

MEEF REDUCTION BY ELONGATION OF SQUARE SHAPES - A method that purposely relaxes OPC algorithm constraints to allow post OPC mask shapes to elongate along one direction (particularly lowering the 1-dimensional MEEF in this direction with the result of an effectively overall lowered MEEF) to produce a pattern on wafer that is circular to within an acceptable tolerance.

2010-02-18

20100042968

Method for software cost estimating using scope champions - The invented method is based on the assumption that the product scope of software is defined by a complete set of requirements on the same level of abstraction. Based on this assumption, a limited number, up to seven, requirements (scope champions) are estimated using one of the existing estimating approaches. The average of the obtained estimates is multiplied by a total amount of requirements and by a constant. The result is the final product scope estimate.